But his transformation has mirrored the Black Cats’ improvement as a team under Sam Allardyce.

One observer’s claim that he’d gone from “clown to Roberto Carlos” was a touch over the top.

Yet even without his thunderous 82nd minute strike which finally broke Stoke's resistance, Van Aanholt proved yesterday that he’s more of an asset than a liability these days.

His attacking qualities were evident even when he was defending like a headless chicken but now the Dutchman is more resolute, assured and thriving in Allardyce’s new wing-back system.

Can you match these stunning WAGS with their Premier League partners?

How well do you know your wags? See if you can match these babes with their Premier League partners.

1 / 56

INSTAGRAM

She's a former Miss Iceland...

“The manager has given us belief and changed us with a different way of training and playing”

Patrick Van Aanholt

It’s a far cry from when he was the worst of a very bad bunch.

“Everyone can criticise me but I don’t listen to them,” he said.

“I know what I am capable of. Of course, every player has to accept that and it’s happened to me but you have to get back up.

“I’ve trained really hard and I’m back up. The manager has given us belief and changed us with a different way of training and playing.

“I’m a full back but I can do the wing back job because I like to go up and down. Scoring my first league goal feels fantastic and right now, I am very happy.”

GETTY

STAR MAN: Van Aanholt celebrates his goal

If Van Aanholt is the personification of the Black Cats’ revival - with back-to-back wins - then young Duncan Watmore is the spark.

Replacing hamstring victim Jermain Defoe after half an hour, the 21-year-old’s direct running terrorised Stoke’s defenders, culminating in Ryan Shawcross’s rash challenge on him which brought the defender a second yellow card just after the restart.

Watmore sealed victory with a stunning finish two minutes after Jack Butland’s goal had been breached for the first time in five away games, leading to an outbreak of Allardyce worship from a Stadium of Light crowd, who, for the first time this season, now believe survival is achievable.

“It’s a great shout for me,” said Allardyce. “It’s nice to hear them sing your name.”

GETTY

FUTURE STAR: Watmore impressed once again

He has not always been appreciated but Allardyce is genuinely touched by the affection Mackems have showered on him and now wants to repay it by turning the clock back.

“My ultimate goal would be to emulate what my old mate Peter Reid did here,” he said. “Try to be as good as he was.

“Not straight away. It might take a year or two but right now, it’s evolving by me trying to make the players perform better than they were before I got here.”

Mark Hughes has enjoyed many duels with Allardyce over the years and was bracing himself for another battle of attrition.

But he was correct in claiming the 47th minute red card for his captain, fiercely contested by the Stoke camp, was the key moment.

Hughes said: “There were a couple of decisions which left us scratching our heads. We asked Ryan when he came off whether he’d got the ball and he said he got a touch.

“There was a coming together but a key decision like that changes the whole complexion.

“The first goal was always going to be the key and we were also unhappy with the awarding of the free kick leading to it.

“I thought Sunderland looked okay and had more self-belief than a few weeks ago but I still maintain if we’d kept everyone on the pitch, it would have been a different story.”